WisBusiness: DNR Board to consider public hearings on water conservation

By WisBusiness Staff

The state Natural Resources Board at its May meeting will consider holding public hearings on a series of water conservation measures under the Great Lakes Compact.

The meeting is set to begin Tuesday in Lake Geneva.

Among the measures up for consideration are proposed rules to: require registration for anyone proposing to withdraw more than 100,000 gallons of water from the Great Lakes basin in a 30-day span; create a three-tiered system of water conservation and efficiency for entities withdrawing or diverting from 100,000 to more than 2 million gallons from the basin in a 30-day window; and enact an annual fee of $125 for those withdrawing more than 50 million gallons from the basin per year.

There would be an additional fee assessed depending on the amount withdrawn.

Revenue from the fees would be used to fund implementation of the Great Lakes Compact in Wisconsin.

See the Natural Resources Board agenda